COCKSFOOT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2133, 9 March 1897, Page 2

COCKSFOOT.

There* has been, a little seed' saved | since we last wrote, but what is on tbe | ground now will never be lifted, and -the - total loss is; very large*, for in spite of (he .seed saved .turning out heavier and bettr than anticipated, the yield per acre is fuVy one; third, and in many cases one half, below owners! reasonable esti--1 mate at corflmetfcement of Beaspror Tbis loss was reasonably lo be - " expected, for in lifting the bundles'of seed tb'dry, especially in rough 'country , wher _r.;there is heavy dank undergrowth,* a" considerable portion of the best of. the seed falls out of each sheaf. This cannot.be avoided, even with tbe greatest care, for the wet swells the seed, which consequently ex-tends-tbo husk,.and when the seed dries into, smaller/com pass the husk does not again contraband the seed falls. We beard of one iostanca where an industrious man carried round with him ft clotb, and lilting the sheaves immediately over »*, saved the dropoiQgs in s comparatively small aresi to the extent Of twelve sacks of heavy seed. good deal of Bead Iras beeri.Tsofd 'Tlteiy, and very fair prices have been obtained. Mr G Breitmeyer-sold » ; parcel at-** very high figure, hut it exceptional seed. Mr Brown, of Onuku, sold IJSD sacks, once through'the'riddle,' it weighed 171ba, -and was exceptionally clean* as Well W_ heavy, and we have heard of ft good nanny sales et*B£Mo4d. This of coarse applies to'the brijst seed saved before; the'first" rain <; font we-h»ve •to record a con.iderableOhfthg»of opinion regarding' dark seed. It is not of course equal in value to bright seed; r ajid'never -will bt*, but-still the fact is-becoming more-widely known year by yeftr that tha germinating power'is wry little Effected • by-slight'disco!ore,tion; and the'faet that ' Peninsula buyers flmosr invariably- purchase dark seed at reduced rates for their own consumption is telling on publio opinion tea oeilam extent The European markej,"however; demands thb very best se_sd 14' theory best condition, and it is possible long transit is more detri- , mental tc. seed.thfttjhas oao#,;been wetted • than that harvested perfectly dry. There is no doubt that had the weafher re-mained--fine fortnight,, ibje" crop harvested wtfuleV h«TO"Meii one of the best : and heaviest" on .reeprd j and even as it is; we "dp not" t_ji'n£ Ithat the majority of tie peninsula farmers will have cause tagruitble. at * the" rsndts of the season,, . ,_..,., '